Shaft for golf clubs and the like



sept. 21, 1926.

1,600,389 H. G. BARRET-r 1 SHAFT FOR GOLF CLUBS AND THE LIKE Filed March22, 1926 Patented Sept. 2.71,' 1926.

AUNITED STATES i PATENT o l-.l=lcla.`

nanou) G. aannam, or wnmm'rrn, rumors, hssIGNon. To rm'rom.' rnoDUc'rsCORPORATION, or CHICAGO, rLLrNoIs, a coaroaa'iIoN or ILLINoIs.-

sm'r ron com? CLUBS AND. man Lnrn.

Application led latch 22,1926.` Serial No. 96,368.

This invention relates in general to golf clubs but more specifically tothe shaft employed in connection `therewith, and one of the objects Vofthe invention is to provide an 6 improved cover or casing for the shaftwhich is adapted to be telescoped or sleeved over the shaft or core andthe two bound together Vby a wedging operation, thereby rendering itpossible to produce the casing as a separate l and complete article ofmanufacture which may be sold as such to be applied to a shaft or core.f

Such a casing may be applied without the services of an expert, and whenplaced upon l the core, will not only protect the core, but

will strengthen and re-inforce the entire portion of thecore or shaftwhich is disposed between the grip and head of the club withoutinterfering with the required flexibility of the shaft and at the-sametime the shaft will be of the desired weight and rigidity.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful objects as wlll appear, the invention consists $5 1n the featuresof novelty in substantially the construction, combination andarrangement of the several parts, hereinafter more fully described andlclaimed and shown in the accompan ing drawing illustrating. this l0invention, an in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of a golf clubconstructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the core.v l

Figure 3 is a perspectlve view of the casing. t

Figure 4 is ar' longitudinal sectional view,

partly obroken away, of a olf club shaft constructed in accordance witthe principles of this invention. u

5 i`s a view similar to Figure 4 of a m 'lied form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken online6-6 3. Y Figure 7 is adetail sectional view taken on line 7-7 Figure 5. A'

While this invention hasv been shown and will be particularly describedin connection with a golf club shaft, it is to be understood that theterm shaft as employed throughout the ication and claims is not to ybecon- -strue as a term of limitation and as being adapted for thatpurpose alone, but 1t 1s -to vbe construed broadly as being applicable'to any form of shaft, staL'or for any other similar purpose andparticularly to shafts subjected to impacts thereupon'in directionstransverse to the length thereof.

heretofore golf club shafts .have usually been made of wood and someshafts have been constructed of highly tempered metal, such as steel.

While satisfactory results have been obtained with these shafts thereare many objections to them. y

Golf club shafts are subjected, among other things, to moisture andchanging tem-` peratures, with the result that wooden shafts or coresnot only absorb moisture but they 7 will warp and split, while metalshafts will corrode and rus j The corrosion and rust cannot be coveredby'painting the shaft as the paint will not stick but w1ll chip or peeloif.

The corroding and rusting of the metal shafts results in considerableloss not only to the manufacturer but also to the merchant. as therusting will occur upon the shaftsthat are carried in stock, there yprecluding the sale of the same. 7

It is one .of the objects of the present invention to provide for thecore or shaft a cover or casing of non-metallic hard material havingtensile strength and which casing will not only reinforceth shaft orcore but possesses considerable flexibiljty',{so as. not to impair theflexibility of the liaft, at the same time, the casing will permit thefinished product to possess the desired weight and balance. v

After the present casing is once applied, the core or shaft will beprotected and no further o ration, in so far as the-casing is concerne,is necessa ,K as a casing may be given the desired before being applied,andthe telescoping and wedging operation of the core and casing is allthat is necessary to bind them together.

v The casing and core are both formed with l. a continuous and extendedtaper so that the Casin' will have contact with-the core through t eentire length ofthe casing.

' In carrying this invention into practise a tubular casing, of anysuitable non-metallic material, may be employed which is adapted to beplaced upon or sleeved over the core and to be fashioned to conform tothe contour ofthe shaft o r core, the shaft or core and the casing beingboth continor both ends thereof according to the methods or meansemployed to fasten the head and grip of the club to the shaft.

In "either event, however, the casing will closely fit and have acontinuous contact with the core or shaft throughout the en tire lengthof the casing.

A suitable material which has been found ,y

to be efficient for this purpose is pyroxyline, but it is to beunderstood that 1t 1s not desired to be limited to this particularproduct as an other material having the properties an characteristicsherein vrecited may be employed.

A similar material 0r casing may be employed or placed over a shaft orcore which 1s Constructed of low grade wood and which core is eithersolid or tubular, enabling the use of material which has heretofore beenpractically useless or at least unfit for use 1n shafts.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral lO designates ahollow tapered core `or shaft preferably produced from a sheet 0f metalbrought into form, and 1l designates a tubular casing formed from anon-metallic hard and flexible material. The casing is taperedthroughout its entire length and conforms to the contour of the core andthe size of the casing in cross section is such that when the two varetelescoped they may be bound together by a wedging operation, and at thesame time they will be independent of each other in that they will notbe so fastened that they cannot be separated.

A head 12 is secured in any suitable manner to one end of the shaft thugformed and a grip or handle 13 is applied to or formed at the other endof the-shaft.

In Figure '4 the casing 11 is shown as terminating short of the end ofthe core or shaft 10, while in Figure 5 the casing is co-extensive withthe length of the core.

The casing 1l being tubular and normally tapered may be readily appliedand when in place upon the core will not only protect the latter, butwill not interfere with the torsion or flex of the core. Furthermore thecasing serves as a finish for the core, the surface of the casing itselfbeing adapted to be finished either before or after it is applied to thecore.

By this means it will be manifest that any desired finish may be givento the shaft as the casing may be made of any desired color or colors. I

The tapered metallic core may be either tubular or solid and when thecasing is against rust and corrosion. c With wood cores or shafts thecasing w1ll not only protect them against moisture and warping but willreinforce and brace them without impairing the flexibility or the tor,-I

sion of any core or shaft to which it is applied. i

In shafts, such as in wood shafts, its which the torsion and flexibilityare usually too great, the torsion and flex may be reduced by use ofthis improved` casing, the amount of the reduction being controlled bythe degree of thickness of the casing, and at the same time the properweight and balance as well as the necessary flexibility will bemaintained in the club.

By the ex ression normally tapered is meant that t e casing is formedinto shape so that even though it is hard, it will possess considerablefiexibility and is complete in itself ready to be sleeved over andwedged upon the core.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been .herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various changes may be made inthe details of construction Yand inthe combination and arrangement ofthe several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departingfrom the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is 1. A fiexible golf club shaft embodying atapered core, and a separate tapered tubular protecting and reinforcingcasing of nonmetallic hard and flexible material of a length coextensivewith the length of the entire portion of thecore which is disposedbetween the grip and head of the club, the said casing telescoped overthe core and wedged thereupon, the casing and core havmg contactthroughout the entire length of the casing and being independent of eachother, the saidcore and the interior of the casing increasing indiameter toward the grip end of the club.

2. A fiexible golf club shaft embodying a v tapered hollow metalliccore, and a separate tapered tubular protecting and reinforcing casingof non-metallic hard and flexible material of a length coextensive withthe length of the entire portion of the core which is disposed betweenthe grip and head of the club, the said casing telescoped over the coreand .wedged thereupon, the vcasing and core having contact throughoutthe entire len th of which is disposed between the ip and head of theclub, the said casing te escoped over the core and wedged thereupon, thecasing and core having Contact throughout the entire length of thecasing and being independent of each other, the said core and theinterior of the casing increasin in diameter toward the grip end of theclu 4. A fiexible golf club shaft embodying a tapered hollow metalliccore and a separate tapered tubular protecting and reinforcing casing ofpyroxyline of a length coextensive with the length of the entire portionof the core which is disposed between the grip and head of the club, thesaid casing telescoped over the core and wedged thereupon, the casingand core having contact throughout the ent-ire length of the casing andbeing indeendent of each other, the said core and the interior of thecasing increasing in diameter 20 toward the grip end of the club.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this18th day of March, A. D. 1926.

HAROLD G. BARRETT.

